Ihezuo’s late strike sends Super Falcons to WAFCON quarter-finals

By Olaolu Joseph –

Nigeria’s Super Falcons on Thursday night secured all three points against Botswana to advance to the quarter-finals of the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, holding in Morocco.

Mexico-based Chinwendu Ihezuo, who scored the third goal in the 3–0 rout of Tunisia on Sunday, stretched her left leg adroitly to connect with a great pass from Esther Okoronkwo, giving Nigeria the win in a largely scrappy encounter in Casablanca.

It was not an easy night for the Nigerians, as Botswana gave the Falcons a run for their money, holding the nine-time champions to a goalless first half.

The scrappy nature of the match continued in the second half, with the opposition stifling play through numbers in midfield and defence. Substitute Ihezuo headed over the bar in the 48th minute, while the energetic Ashleigh Plumptre saw her tricky shot tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Maitumelo Bosija in the 64th minute.

Substitute Jennifer Echegini came close with a snapshot in the 71st minute and again tested the South Africa-based Bosija with an angled shot in the 82nd minute.

The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper was finally beaten with a minute left in regulation time, when Okoronkwo outwitted the Botswana defence before delivering a well-placed pass that Ihezuo converted for the decisive goal.

The Super Falcons will take on Algeria in their final Group B match on Sunday evening at the same Larbi Zaouli Stadium.

Earlier, Algeria and Tunisia had battled to a goalless draw, a result that leaves the Falcons comfortably at the top of the group.